Chair



Sept. 10, 1963 L. CANNON ETAL CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1961 INVENTORS [5022a 62W: n on av'a ra/a frazz (2r A'IIDRNEY'S.

Sept. 10, 1963 1.. CANNON ET AL 3,103,333

CHAIR Filed Aug. 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,103,383 CHAIR Leona Cannon and Carole Kratzer, Hillsboro, Ohio Filed Aug. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 131,165 1 Claim. (Cl. 237-116) The present invention relates to a chair, and more particularly to an adjustable chair that can be conveniently used by adults as well as by children.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a chair which can be used for different purposes, as for example the chair can be used a barber shop, beauty parlor, dentist office, or as a surgical chair, and wherein the chair of the present invention includes an improved and novel means for adjusting various parts thereof whereby the person sitting in the chair can be supported in the desired or required manner.

A further object is to provide a chair of the type stated that includes pivotally mounted members that can be arranged in one position as for example when the chair is being used by an adult, and wherein the members can be pivoted or moved to a :diiferent position in order to conveniently permit use of the device by a child or the like.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described that may be utilized speedily and with precision by even inexperienced operators.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a device of the character described that is economical to produce, durable in form, and conducive to the most economical use of materials and uniformity of members formed therefrom.

Still (further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the chair of the present invention with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan View with the parts in the position of FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view generally similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the arm rests or body members ina different position so as to permit use of the chair by a child, as compared to the arrangement shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 wherein the parts are arranged to permit use of the chair by an adult or the like.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the platform per se.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view showing certain constructional details of the present invention.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of the back rest adjustment mechanism.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 20 indicates the chair of the present invention which may be supported on a suitable horizontal surface such as a floor surface 21, FIGURE 1, and the chair 20 includes a base '22 that is provided with an upstanding portion or section 23, and there is provided in the base 22 a vertically disposed chamber or recess 24, for a purpose to be later described. The numeral 25 indicates a conduit which is adapted to have a portion thereof extend through the floor 21 and communicating with the lower end of the chamber 24, and the conduit 25 can be used for supplyice 2 ing an actuating medium such as hydraulic fluid 32 to the chamber 24 from a suitable source of supply. The numeral 26 indicates a valve member that is connected to the conduit 25, and there is provided an actuator 27 which is adapted to be moved in order to actuate the valve 26, and the actuator 27 is provided with a foot engaging member 28 thereon, the actuator 27 being mounted for movement through a cutout or opening 29 in the floor 2 1, FIGURE 1. The numerals 30 and 31 indicate lines or conduits which are connected to the valve 26, and the conduits 30' and 31 are adapted to be connected to various accessories such as a reservoir tank, pump or the like whereby the actuating fluid can be properly directed to or from the chamber 24.

The numeral 33 indicates a vertically adjustable standand which is sli-dably supported or arranged in the chamber 24, and there is provided in the standard 33 a plurality of spaced apart recesses or grooves 34. The numeral 35 indicates -a horizontally disposed platform that is secured to or formed integral with the upper end of the standard 33. The numeral 36 indicates a keeper or locking mechanism which is adapted to be used for selectively preventing rotation of the standard 33 in the chamber 24, and the keeper mechanism 36 includes a foot engaging element 37, and the keeper 36 is pivotally or hingedly connected to cars 40 by means of a pivot pin 39, and

the ears 40 are secured to or formed integral with a sleeve or band 41 that surrounds the upstanding portion 23 of the base 22. The keeper 36 further includes a finger or tongue 38 that is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the grooves 34 in thestan-dard 33, and the numeral 42 indicates a spring member for normally urging or biasing the tongue 38 into engagement with a particular groove 34.

Extending upwardly from the platform 35 and secured thereto or formed integral therewith are spaced apart flanges 44 which have their corner portions spaced from each other as indicated by the numeral 45, and apertures or openings 46 are arranged in the corner portions of the platform 35, FIGURE 5. The numeral 47 indicates a cushion member that is mounted on the platform 35, and the lower portion of the cushion member 47 is arranged between the flanges 43 and 44 so that the flanges help hold the cushion member 47 in its proper place.

As shown in the drawings there is further provided a bracket or support piece that is indicated generally by the numeral 48, and the support piece 48' includes spaced apart leg portions 49 that have end sections 50 for engaging openin-gsor recesses 51 in the end portion of the platform 35, and pins or securing elements are adapted to be used for maintaining the end portions 50 secured within the recesses 51. The support piece 48 further includes a cross element or crosspiece 52 which has a foot engaging element 53 connected thereto, and the foot engaging element 53 may be held in place by means of set screws 54, FIGURE 1.

The chair of the present invention further includes a pair of similar spaced apart inverted V-shaped support members that are indicated generally by the numeral 56, and each of the support members 56 includes a bight or horizontal portion 57 as well as generally vertical front and rear legs or depending portions 58 and 59, and the lower ends of the portions 58 and 59 are adapted to be snugly received in the apertures 46 of the platform 35, and securing elements 60- are adapted to be used for maintaining the lower ends of the portions 58 and *59 secured within the apertures 4-6.

Secured to or formed integral with the portions 59 and extending rearwardly therefrom are racks 61 which have a plurality of teeth 62 thereon, and pins 63 extend outwardly from opposite sides of an adjustable back rest 64 for coaction with the teeth 62 of the racks 61 where- 3 by the back rest 64- can be maintained immobile in its various desired adjusted positions. Stop members or elements 65 are formed on the rear ends of the racks 611 for limiting backward tilting movement of the back rest 64. As shown in the drawings the back rest 64 includes a frame 66 that embodies spaced apart side sections 69 and the lower portions of the side sections 69 are provided with slots or cutouts 67 for the projection therethrough of a pivot mounting rod 68, FIGURE 10. Hand grips or handles 70 are secured to or formed integral with the upper portions of the side sections 69 of the frame 66, and the numeral 71 indicates a cushion unit which is suitably secured within the frame 66.

There is further provided a pair of similar body members 72 which each have a generally L-shape in cross section, and each of the body members 72 comprises first and second portions or sections 73 and 74 that are arranged at right angles with respect to each other, FI URE 2, land the portion 74 is longer than the portion 73. The portions '73 of the body members 72 are swivelly or hingedly mounted on the seotions 57 of the support members 56. The numeral 75 indicates a cushion element which is suitably secured to the second portion 74 of each body member 72, and a base piece 76 may be interposed between the cushion element 75 and the adjacent portion of the body member 72, FIGURE 6.

The band 41 is adapted to be held in place on the base by means of set screws or securing elements 77, FIG- URE 8.

The numeral 78- indicates a cutout or slot in the upper section 23 of the base 22, and the cutout 78 provides clearance for the tongue 38 to move through in order to engage a groove 34 in the standard 33.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a chair which can be used for various purposes, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that for example an adult can sit on the chair when the parts are in the position of FIG- URES l, 2 and 3, and the cushion member 47 is adapted to he sat upon by the adult or other person. With the pants in the position of FIGURES 1 through 3, the portions 73 of the member 72 function as comfortable and convenient arm rests, and the feet of the person sitting in the chair can engage the element 53. The back rest 64 can be adjusted to a desired angle as desired or required. In addition the standard 33 can be adjusted up or down in the base 22 so that the platform and associated parts can be raised or lowered as desired or required.

To adjust the standard 33 and platform 35 and associated parts up or down, the barber or other person operating the chair need only step on the member '28 so as to move the actuator 27 which is operatively connected to the valve 26, whereby hydraulic fi-uid or other actuating medium such as compressed air can be supplied from a suitable source of supply such as a reservoir tank and such actuating medium can be pumped by means of a suitable pump from the conduit 36 into the conduit 25 whereby the actuating medium 32 will enter the chamber 24 to raise the standard 33 in the chamber 24 of the upstanding section 23 of the base 22. Since the platform 35 is rigidly affixed to the upper end of the standard 33, it will be seen that this upward movement of the standard 33 will result in corresponding movement of the platform 35 and associated parts. By moving the valve 26 to a dilferent position as for example by engaging the element 28 with the foot, the actuating medium 32 can flow outwardly from the chamber 24 through the conduit 25 and out through a conduit such as the conduit 31 in order to permit downward movement of the standard 33 in the chamber 24.

The keeper 36 is pivotally connected as at 39 to the ears 40 on the band 41, and the band 41 is held in place by means of the set screws 77, FIGURE 8. Thus, by stepping on the portion or element 37, FIGURE 1, the keeper 36 can be pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction in order to withdraw the tongue 38 from the particular groove 34 in which it is engaged, and the opening 78 in the upstanding section 23 provides clearance for the tongue 38 to work or move through in order to engage or disengage the corresponding groove 34. With the tongue 38 out of engagement with the groove 3-4, there will be no interference with rotation of the standard 33 in the chamber 24 so that with the tongue 38 out of en gagement with the grooves, the standard 33 can rotate and thus the platform 35 and associated parts can rotate in order to provide a means for conveniently positioning a person at a desired location, and the platform can be turned through three-hundred and sixty degrees. After the standard and platform have been rotated to a desired position, foot pressure on the element 37 can be released whereby the spring 42 will have a tendency to bias or urge the tongue 38 inwardly as for example as shown in FIGURE 1 whereby the tongue 38 will engage a corresponding or proper groove 34 in order to prevent inadvertent or unwanted rotation of the standard 33. Due to the provision of the elongated grooves 34 and the previously described tongue 38, it will be seen that the standard 33 can be adjusted up or down and this up and down adjustment can take place without any rotation of the standard since the tongue 38 will engage a groove 34 in order to maintain the standard in an aligned position as it is adjusted.

With reference to the adjustable back rest 64, the back rest 64 includes the frame 66 which has the slots 67 in the lower side portion 69, FIGURE 10, and the pivot mounting pin or rod 68 extends through the diametrically opposed slot 67 in the opposite side portion 69. Thus, with the parts arranged as shown in FIGURE 1 for example, it will be seen that to adjust the back rest 64 to a different angularly position, it is only necessary to grip the handles 70 and :lift up on the back rest 64 whereby the slot 67 will provide sufficient clearance for the back rest 64 to be raised upwardly a suflicient distance to permit the pin 63 to clear the teeth 62 of the racks 61, and with the pin 63 up out of engagement with the teeth 62, the back rest 64 can be pivoted in a forward or reverse direction to the desired location, and then when pressure on the handle 76 is released, the pins 63 will engage the teeth 62 to maintain the back rest 64 stationary or immobile =in its desired adjusted position. The portions 65 function as stop members to prevent the back. rest 64 from being tilted back too far.

When an adult or the like is using the chair 20 of the present invention, the parts are in a position such as that shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 so that the person sits on the cushion member 47, and with the parts in this position the sections 73 function as comfortable and convenient arm rests for the person supported on the cushion member 47. However, when a child or small person is using the chair, the body members 72 are pivoted or swivelled inwardly from a position such as that shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 to a position such as that shown in FIGURE 4, and this swivel action or movement of the body members 72 is brought about due to the pivotal connection of the sections 73 on the portions 67 of the support member 66. Thus, the members 72 can be moved to the position shown in FIGURE 4, whereby the cushion element will be arranged in aligned horizontally disposed relation so that the pair of cushion elements 75 would provide a raised seat for the child or other person. When the chair is to be used by an adult, the parts can be returned from the position shown in :FIGURE 4 to the position such as that shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. With the parts in the position of FIGURE 4 the sections 74 are supported on the cushion member 47.

The cushion unit 71 is suitably afiixed to the frame 66 in order to comfortably and conveniently support or engage the back of the user of thechair.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

It will be seen that according to the present invention the childs sea-t structure or body members can be applied to the arms of a chair such as a barber chair in such a manner whereby the body members or sections of the childs seat can be swung into and out of position in order to permit the chair to be utilized with equal facilities and for the accommodation of both adults and infants or children.

The chair of the present invention can be readily placed in a reclining position so as to function as an all purpose chair.

According to the present invention there is provided an improved folding arm type of chair wherein there is provided a pair of folding arms or body members that -Will fold over into the seat of the chair so as to raise the seat of the chair whereby it can be used for adults and children, and the present invention also includes a safety means for keeping the chair from turning, and this safety means which includes the keeper will operate independently from the hydraulic lift of the chair, and the hydraulic lift can be of any suitable construction. Thus, the chair of the present invention includes an improved and novel means for raising the seat of the chair together with the folding arm rests, and the chair also includes a means for preventing accidental inadvertent rotation thereof. The chair will not turn until foot pressure is applied to the element 37 and this functions as a safety locking arrangement.

The chair of the present invention thus includes the folding arm rests which are adapted to fold from the sides of the chair over into the seat of the chair, and wherein the seat can be raised or lowered and the chair can be used by adults or children, and the present invention includes the hydraulic lift and mechanical foot operated safety device which is independent of the hydraulic lift and which will keep the chair from turning until released. Back rests can be placed at any desired angle, as previously stated.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it Will be obvious that the invention may be otherwise embodied and the di mensions and interrelation of parts changed so long as the objects of the invention are attained.

What is claimed is:

In a chairincluding a seatplatform and a cushion member disposed on said platform, an inverted U-shaped support member disposed adjacent each of two opposed side edges of said platform, the legs of each of said members. being anchored in said platform, an L-shaped auxiliary seat element disposed with the long leg vertical and the short leg horizontal and above the long leg adjacent each of said support members, and means connecting the free end of each of the short legs of said seat elements to the bight of the adjacent support member for swinging movement of the seat elements to a position in which the long leg thereof is horizontal and above said seat cushion member, the free ends of said seat elements being adjacent to each other so as to provide a seat when both of said seat elements are in the position in which the long legs are above said seat cushion member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Italy Oct. 30, 

